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# GRAPHIC: East Asia leads world in purchases of U.S. meat
- URL: https://www.investigatemidwest.org/graphic-east-asia-leads-world-in-purchases-of-u-s-meat/
- Published: 2021-05-19T17:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2021-05-19T17:00:00.000Z
- Description: Since 2016, meat and livestock exports to China have increased 75 percent. China displaced Mexico last year as the 2nd-largest buyer of U.S. meat.
- Author: Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest
- Tags: Data Harvest, TP::Explainer, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-06-18 04:56

China and Japan are the largest markets for U.S. meat and livestock exports, according to 2020 trade data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Mexico and Canada were the 3rd and 4th largest buyers of U.S. meat products.

The U.S. Census Bureau trade data lists Hong Kong as a separate buyer from China. With Hong Kong included, China is the largest importer of U.S. meat and livestock. Japan is the second-largest importer, buying nearly $4 billion in meat and livestock from the U.S. in 2020.

Since 2016, meat and livestock exports to China have increased 75 percent. China displaced Mexico last year as the 2nd-largest buyer of U.S. meat.

South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore are also among the top eight importers of U.S. livestock and meat.